Ernestine Janis Maria Catherine Cundiff

Ernestine Janis Maria CatherineCundiff

affectionately known as "Teena" to friends and "Nana" to family, was born November 1, 1932, called to the Father on February 13, 2026.

Born to the late Ernest Jolla and the late Hattie Mae Gray in Centreville, Mississippi; Ernestine was raised in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Ernestine attended Booker T. Washington High School where she graduated with honors in 1951.

Ernestine joined the Air Force and was stationed at Lackland AFB San Antonio, Texas with the 3742 WAF Training Squadron as a clerk typist during the Korean War. She met cherished husband Lawrence L. Cundiff, also an Air Force veteran. They were married on February 27, 1953, at the Rapid City North Chapel Church in South Dakota. She received an honorable discharge from the Air Force on January 29, 1953.

Ernestine and Lawrence became proud parents of five children (Roderick, Bruce, Janise, Karen and Michael). Ernestine transitioned to a homemaker and was very active in raising and caring for her family. Between 1961-1964, she was a member of the Nunaka Valley, Alaskan National Congress of Parents and Teachers of Elmendorf Air Force Base. She was active in her sons' Cub Scout meetings and excursions and often took her other children along to go camping and hiking with her sons' troops. She was a Girl Scout leader for her daughters' troops and taught the girls important etiquette as well as sewing and cooking. When her husband was commissioned to go to Thailand in the late 1960s, Ernestine raised their five children on her own in Vacaville, California. She collectively gathered her children around the bedside to pray for their father's safe return from the war.

The family relocated to Ohio in 1970 and after her husband retired, Ernestine became a bank teller at Banc Ohio and was quickly promoted to lead cashier. She later became employed at Anthem BC/BS as a claims adjuster and played a large part in helping families get claims authorized. Ernestine used her customer service skills during her employment at the original John Maloney South Side Health Center and at CMACAO.

Ernestine was very active in the American Legion becoming the first African American Chapeau for the 8 and 40. She had a passion for vulnerable populations and recruited her granddaughters and great-granddaughters in special projects and activities serving adults and children with special needs. Ernestine enjoyed bowling in her younger years but she really enjoyed throwing elegant and informal parties as well as having family brunches. She was quite the hostess and effortlessly fed everyone while making them feel welcomed. Cooking was her favorite pastime and she will be remembered for her grits, fluffy eggs, gumbo and a multitude of pies and cakes. Not only did she teach her children how to make her favorite Southern cuisine, she involved her grandchildren and great-grandchildren as well.

Always a woman of faith, Ernestine attended House of Prayer Worship Center (Pastor Kevin Thomas) and joined Barnett Road Baptist Church (aka The Truth Church) where Pastor Thomas relocated. Ernestine was always sharing the gospel with strangers she would meet and touched the lives of so many including some who would join the church. She served as a greeter and also on the welcome committee to encourage new members to keep the faith. Ernestine was officially installed as a Church Mother in 2024.

Ernestine is preceded in death by her parents (Hattie and Ernest), her sister (Nancy Williams), her husband (Lawrence Cundiff), her children (Ricky and Bruce Cundiff and Janise Dumas), her granddaughter (Amanda Dumas), her grandson (Isaac Cundiff) and best friends (Jo'el Pittman and Mary Dawson).

Those left to cherish so many fond memories: Daughter: Karen (Stan) Fields; Son: Michael Cundiff; Granddaughters: Amber Dumas, Carly (DeLaMarco) Gore, Lindsay (William) Thompson, Rebekah (Eric) Bell, Rachel Cundiff (Daryle Morgan), LeAnna Cundiff and Deborah Wallace; Grandsons: Elijah Cundiff and Bruce (Mason) Cundiff; Great-Grandchildren: Cerina (Andrew) Cundiff, Charles (Taylor) Brooks and Carlito Brooks and a host of Great-Great-Grandchildren: including Triston, Alivianna, Lehlani and Melody; Val and Nate Casher (daughter and son-in-law of her late best friend Jo'el Pittman); her church family: including Pastor Kevin and First Lady Debra Thomas, The Truth Church Mothers, choir and other members; her friends at Mirror Image Hair Salon; good friend and former neighbor: Margaret Poindexter; her "second" family: Brother Marvin, Pearl and Buddy Dickerson and a host of other great grandchildren and dear friends.